Clinical Research Studies

The study will evaluate and compare the short-term effects of how negative pressure wound therapy combined with automated wound cleansing using saline compares to collagenase ointment in healing pressure ulcers. A pressure ulcer is an injury to the skin and the tissue underneath the skin caused by prolonged pressure to the area which can result in an open wound. The negative pressure wound therapy device and dressing that will be used in this study will be the V.A.C.UltaTM Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System and V.A.C. VeraFlo Cleanse ChoiceTM Dressing. Negative pressure wound therapy uses a specialized foam that is placed in the pressure ulcer and covered with a clear dressing to create a seal. The foam dressing that will be used in this study is called V.A.C. VeraFlo Cleanse ChoiceTM Dressing. The dressing is connected to a specialized therapy unit that creates negative pressure through gentle suction to the dressing. The specialized therapy unit that will be used in the study is called the V.A.C.UltaTM Therapy Unit. The therapy unit is programmed to stop the gentle suction at specific times and soak the foam dressing covering the pressure ulcer with a saline solution to help cleanse the wound and promote healing. After cleansing, the therapy unit will resume the gentle suction. This cycle will repeat every three and a half hours until the therapy is stopped.